When you first bring your dog home, you’ll find yourself completely enthralled by this little being that now hogs the covers and follows you around.
Before long, it all becomes very normal and you and your mutt fall into a routine that works for you. But because you’re a busy dog mama, you have other things going on in your life, so you need to make sure that you can get things done, keep your dog happy, and that you both enjoy your lives too.
One thing that you may forget about is safety, because all too often we take our security for granted. Yet, it’s just so important, and it’s something that you need to think about and plan for each and every day. This is why, for the sake of your happiness as well as your dog’s, you need to make safety a priority.
Let’s take a look at some basic safety measures for living with dogs and keeping everyone healthy, happy, and safe.
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4 Basic Safety Measures for Living With Dogs
Around The Home
Before you bring your dog home, do a little pet-proofing around the house. For me, that meant making sure that trash receptacles were secure and my dogs couldn’t get into them.
Keep cleaning supplies, laundry detergents, and other chemicals in a dog-free area. In fact, I highly recommend choosing non-toxic cleaning supplies whenever possible.
I even use child-safe outlet covers in my electrical outlets because, let’s be honest, you just never know.
A baby gate or puppy play pen can keep your dog secure when you are away from home or too busy to keep a close eye on her. Georgie’s play pen has been a life saver for us, and I highly recommend using one.
When You’re Walking
Next up, when you’re out walking with your dog, it’s important to stay safe and be vigilant. Check out my tips for safe dog walking at night, as well as during the cold winter months.
It never hurts to carry a can of mace with you when you walk your dog. This is a great deterrent for any two and 4-legged interruptions you might encounter on your outing. But be careful! Mace should only be used when you truly feel that you and your dog are in danger.
No matter what time of day you’re walking, I highly advise that you focus on your dog and not on your phone. Your daily walk should be a time for you and your dog to connect and enjoy each other’s company; you can check out Instagram once you’re safely back at home.
Guarding Against Theft
Something else to keep in mind is theft. It’s a shame, but there are dog thieves out there, which is why I strongly recommend that you never, ever leave your dog outside alone.
You’ll want to be diligent with your home security, too. Do you have a dog door that leads outside? Take a look at this article to learn of a good solution for big dog owners. This will help to ensure that your home’s boundaries are protected and that you’re not enticing burglars onto your property.
Be Responsible
As a responsible dog mom, it’s super important for you to get your dog microchipped. It’s a quick, simple, and painless procedure that will greatly increase the chances of finding your dog, should she ever become lost. Every dog should be microchipped; I promise you’ll never regret doing it.
As you can see, these are just some very basic safety measures for living with dogs. Check out more safety tips here.
What safety tips do you have to share? Leave them in a comment below!
These are great tips and dog safety I feel is something that is often overlooked in pet parenting!